Bengals remain undefeated in 2026
2/6/26
Buffalo State survived a relentless challenge from St. John Fisher Friday night, emerging victorious 21-25, 25-21, 23-25, 25-23, 15-10 in a pulsating five-set thriller that tested both teams’ championship mettle. The Bengals and Cardinals traded haymakers for over two hours before Buffalo State seized control when it mattered most, dominating the decisive fifth frame to claim a hard-earned victory.
The razor-thin margins told the story of two programs refusing to yield an inch. Buffalo State edged ahead 109-104 in total points while hammering down 67 kills to St. John Fisher’s 53. The Bengals swung with authority all night, posting a .291 hitting percentage on 158 total attacks against the Cardinals’ respectable .250 clip on 140 swings. Buffalo State’s setters distributed 63 assists to keep their attackers in rhythm, while St. John Fisher recorded 52. The defensive war saw Buffalo State dig up 49 balls to the Cardinals’ 39, though St. John Fisher countered with a slight edge in total blocks at 7.0 to 6.0, turning the net into a contested zone all evening.
St. John Fisher struck first blood, seizing the opening set 25-21 with crisp execution and disciplined play that had Buffalo State scrambling. The Bengals regrouped instantly, storming back to claim the second set 25-21 with elevated intensity that evened the match. The third set became a white-knuckle affair, with St. John Fisher grinding out a 25-23 edge to reclaim momentum. Buffalo State refused to fold, matching that narrow margin with their own 25-23 fourth-set triumph that forced a winner-take-all finale, where the Bengals exploded with a commanding 15-10 performance to seal the deal.
Buffalo State’s offensive firepower came from multiple weapons firing on all cylinders. Gavin Wilczewski delivered a virtuoso performance, unleashing a match-high 22 kills while scraping up 12 digs and piling up 24 total points in a relentless two-way effort. The senior outside hitter was unstoppable when Buffalo State needed points, finding seams in the Cardinals’ defense with surgical precision. Kaden Strong provided the perfect complement, hammering 15 kills at a blistering .600 hitting percentage that left St. John Fisher defenders flailing. Strong’s efficiency on 25 total attacks was nothing short of spectacular, turning nearly every quality set into a thunderous put-away.
DeAngelo D’Aloise emerged as another crucial piece in Buffalo State’s attack, contributing 12 kills at a stellar .375 clip while matching Wilczewski with 13 digs in a complete performance. Kieran Eagen added 10 kills to give the Bengals dangerous depth that kept St. John Fisher’s blockers guessing throughout the match.
The maestro orchestrating this offensive symphony was setter Drew Bowman, who put on a clinic with 55 assists that kept Buffalo State’s attack flowing seamlessly. Bowman’s court awareness and pinpoint distribution kept St. John Fisher’s defense constantly off balance, and he even chipped in offensively with a .222 hitting percentage while adding six digs. At the net, Strong anchored the blocking scheme with 2.5 total blocks, while Kellen Palmer contributed 2.0 stuffs to fortify the middle.
St. John Fisher battled ferociously behind their own offensive stars. Gabe La Robardiere was brilliant, pounding 14 kills at an eye-popping .480 hitting percentage while leading all Cardinals with 15 total points. La Robardiere’s efficiency kept St. John Fisher in striking distance throughout the match. Sonepith Keoviengsamay emerged as a two-way dynamo, delivering 13 kills while leading the defensive charge with 13 digs and contributing 14.5 points in a gutsy performance. Casey Jackson added 9 kills and 6 digs, while Connor Holmes made every swing count with a sizzling .600 hitting percentage on limited attempts.
Setter Tyler Cohen pulled the strings for the Cardinals’ attack, distributing 32 assists with intelligence and poise while adding a service ace. James Barone provided quality minutes with 8 assists in relief. The Cardinals’ blocking wall was anchored by Guillermo Perez, who recorded a game-high 4.0 total blocks that repeatedly frustrated Buffalo State’s attackers. Libero Luke Zimmerman matched Keoviengsamay with 13 digs, diving and sprawling to keep rallies alive with spectacular defensive plays.
The serving battle became a high-risk, high-reward chess match. St. John Fisher fired five aces from four different players, with Cohen, Jackson, Keoviengsamay, and Dylan Leong all finding the floor while committing 19 service errors. Buffalo State managed just one ace from Wilczewski but paid the price with 20 errors as both teams pushed aggressively from the service line.
St. John Fisher displayed superior ball control throughout the battle. The Cardinals committed just one reception error compared to Buffalo State’s five, giving their offense clean looks on first ball. St. John Fisher also showed remarkable discipline at the net with only one block error against Buffalo State’s six, reflecting composed and controlled play. Neither team recorded a ball handling error, a testament to the quality setting from both squads.
Buffalo State’s winning formula materialized through offensive relentlessness and defensive tenacity. The Bengals’ 49 digs allowed them to extend rallies and manufacture transition points that accumulated steadily over five grueling sets. Their 67 kills provided the consistent firepower that St. John Fisher couldn’t quite match despite superior blocking and cleaner attack efficiency.
The decisive fifth set showcased championship composure from Buffalo State. After splitting four nail-biting sets filled with momentum swings and heart-stopping sequences, the Bengals shifted into another gear when the stakes reached maximum intensity. Their 15-10 fifth-set demolition reflected clutch execution as Wilczewski, Strong, and D’Aloise delivered crushing blows while Bowman’s distribution kept the Cardinals stretched beyond their breaking point.
Both programs left everything on the court in a display of competitive excellence. Multiple players reached double-digit kills for each side as the teams traded advantages across the stat sheet in a true heavyweight battle. St. John Fisher’s blocking superiority and cleaner ball handling couldn’t quite overcome Buffalo State’s offensive firepower and defensive persistence when the match reached its climactic moments.
This was volleyball drama at its absolute finest, with neither team willing to surrender and both squads executing at championship levels. Buffalo State ultimately prevailed through marginally superior offensive production, relentless floor defense, and the mental fortitude to elevate their game during the pressure-packed fifth set that separated winners from the heartbroken.